[Arc12345Participant]

I think this is a great move and I hope other prospects will start to consider it.

If your goal is to make it to the NBA ASAP, I don’t see any reason why this isn’t a better option for kids and their families than college. Make money, improve, and see a completely different part of the world.

It’s a great experience in another country and being able to dedicate all of your time towards basketball.

It has worked out well for others (Brandon Jennings, Terrance Ferguson), so we’ll see how t goes for him. I don’t think Brian Bowen will go as high but I still expect him to be a solid player and a steal for a team.

What do you guys think of it? I hope this becomes the norm.

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 I don’t think more players will do it for a couple reasons..

1. Couple of years from now you don’t have to go to college

2. It Doesn’t help build your brand..

Think about it..would Zion be this hyped if he played in New Zealand? Would New Zealand have helped Trae Young draft stock? Doubt it..

You mention Terrance Ferguson, I don’t see him playing overseas helped his draft stock nor do we see him playing good ball right now. 

[Arc12345Participant]

If you don’t have to go to college I don’t think this is as likely of a path.

I think we’re talking about different things. You’re talking about building a brand. I’m talking solely about becoming a better basketball player to succeed in the NBA. You can decide for yourself which one is more important.

 Terrance Ferguson started every game he played in this year and made improvements across the board. I wouldn’t bet on him being an all-star, but I think he’ll become a very good NBA player. We all have seen how hard it is playing with Westbrook too so…

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 I don’t think more players will do it for a couple reasons..

1. Couple of years from now you don’t have to go to college

2. It Doesn’t help build your brand..

Think about it..would Zion be this hyped if he played in New Zealand? Would New Zealand have helped Trae Young draft stock? Doubt it..

You mention Terrance Ferguson, I don’t see him playing overseas helped his draft stock nor do we see him playing good ball right now. 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 I don’t think more players will do it for a couple reasons..

1. Couple of years from now you don’t have to go to college

2. It Doesn’t help build your brand..

Think about it..would Zion be this hyped if he played in New Zealand? Would New Zealand have helped Trae Young draft stock? Doubt it..

You mention Terrance Ferguson, I don’t see him playing overseas helped his draft stock nor do we see him playing good ball right now. 

[GronounoursParticipant]

 I think it’s a great idea, mainly because it messes with the f***ed up NCAA system.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Players rarely choose the non-traditional paths because it is more challenging. Australia has the benefit of being an English speaking country, which knocks off that hurdle, but is still about as far away as possible from home for anyone from the US. It is a bigger step up in quality of play. Most of the guys in that league were All-Conference players at the D1 level, and then have been pros ever since. Furthermore, the infrastructure for working with 18-20 year olds is well-established at the colleges. They get them in for the summer term to get allow them to acclimate prior to the fall rush, have them working out with their teammates, get them started on a strength and fitness program, and make sure they are eating something other than fast food or take out. Lastly, there is an out-of-sight-out-of-mind element. Not so much in that teams will be unaware of there being an Australian league, but it is inarguable that coaches, GMs, and scouts have been influenced by the coverage of players they get inundated with. ESPN turned Tim Tebow into a first round pick. It probably made Zion Williamson tens of millions in the endorsement deals he will sign shortly. For the rookie scale, the 14th pick this year (last in the lottery) is slotted for $5.2 million over the two guaranteed years of the deal. The 21st pick (where Terrance Ferguson was taken) is slotted for $3.7 million. For 24th (where Anfernee Simons went), it is $3.2 million. Being good at Duke, Kansas, or Kentucky would almost certainly be worth more over the long-term than what he will make in Australia. Heck, it is almost inconceivable for someone to shoot the ball worse than Cam Reddish did at Duke, and it is very difficult to find anyone say he will fall out of the lottery. 

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

I definitely agree with what you are saying. But as the thread title says NZ not Australia….. We are two different countries.

Shawn Marion is one of the owners of the NZ Breakers and the rest are Americans too so I guess that played big role in getting him here. The previous owners couldn’t do it.

I might have to get me some tickets to some of their home games this season.

[ChoppyParticipant]

True, but the NBL is a predominately an Australian league. They’ll be playing here every other game. Besides, there’s not THAT much difference between our two countries (except you guys have a much better prime minister). 

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

No, there isn’t that much difference, just that there is all those deadly animals over there that we don’t have and the climate. Lol, your Prime Minister’s are like on a one and done system they keep changing.

As for this so called "culture shock" I’ve never heard any American being shocked by anything about NZ and there is an has been many imports from the US in the ANBL.

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Yep, lol pretty accurately sums up our political system. 

I will admit though, that yes, pretty much everything here is trying to kill you. And it get pretty hot here. But we have nice beaches, beer and women. So it’s not all bad… 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Much rather be attacked by a Kiwi Bird than a Kangaroo.

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Don’t forget drop bears. Kinda like a savage koala that drops from the trees and eats your face. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Now your just making shit up.

[ChoppyParticipant]

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2013/04/drop-bears-target-tourists-study-says/

The date on the article is merely coincidence. 

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

I meant no offense. The league is Australian, and it is a league-wide initiative to try to bring in guys like Ferguson, Bowen, Hampton, and I guess LaMelo Ball. Given the somewhat middling play (albeit completely understandable all things considered) of Ferguson and Bowen, it is a quite statement that they are continuing on this path of trying to recruit young Americans wanting an alternative to the NCAA. 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 All good mate, no offence taken. New Zealander’s have a chip on their shoulder because they keep getting mistaken for Aussies and we steal everything good they produce (pavlova and Russell Crowe to name two). But really, what do they expect from a country of convicts? 

Signing these young players, even if they aren’t that great, still brings exposure to our league. Brings in publicity and hopefully money through sponsorships and ticket sales. I think it’s one of the best ideas the NBL has had in ages. 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 College program improve you much more…

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 Kids should have the option of not going to school.  I think what it comes down to is elite high school players just have no interest in going to class.  They have a right to make that choice.  I don’t think RJ will be the ready for the league in 2020 because he will spend the next year playing against far inferior competition in New Zealand than he would at Kansas, Kentucky, Duke or Carolina.  RJ is taking a big risk playing in New Zealand.  He will be paid, but it will be a culture shock, he’ll be away from home and friends.  I hope it works out for him.  

[ChewyParticipant]

 his family is moving to wherever RJ goes. At that time, that meant Memphis, Lawrence, or Lubbock. But maybe it means the parents are moving to NZ with him. That would help w/ the culture shock.

[ChoppyParticipant]

Wait, it, wait… so you’re saying that playing in the NBL against professional players, grown men, is going to be inferior to college ball? Sorry, far inferior to quote you accurately. I’m sorry, but for the most part, college teams don’t have that elite talent spread out over it. It’s locked up in those colleges you mentioned. So for a majority of the season, it’s these big colleges beating up on the smaller ones. How is that superior competition to a professional league? 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

I’m not quite sure this is the right move for him. I’m not even quite sure it was the right move for Brandon Jennings or Terrance Ferguson for that matter. Yes, playing internationally most certainly helped Jennings‘ draft stock. But he had 1 good year after that! Now you don’t even hear his name in the NBA anymore! And if he does come back he’d be a back up. So a former 10th pick ends up having one good year! Was it really worth it to go play pro internationally before coming to the NBA? I don’t know about you but if I thought I had the talent to play in the NBA, I’d want to make sure my potential career in the NBA lasts longer than a year. What’s better for a draft prospect: having their draft stock soar or having a long NBA career? Not saying that if RJ had chosen to go Kansas, Kentucky or Carolina he would have a longer career in the NBA. Nor am I saying that because he chose to play in New Zealand rather than college that’s he’s going to have a short NBA career. I’m just saying that he may have just made the biggest mistake of his career. It could help or hurt his potential NBA career. We’ll have to wait and see. I hope it works out for him but I’m not saying whether it will help or hurt him, that’s for the future to decide. 

[Arc12345Participant]

I think we all know it’s up for the future to decide…thank you.

"He may have made the biggest mistake in his career" but "I’m not saying whether it will help or hurt him" LOL.

Clearly you believe it will hurt him based on your previous sentence. Better to get paid something if you have a career ending injury than get paid nothing at all…

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

I made this comment in error. I made it before I read the report of it on ESPN. I like that his New Zealand team will play two nba teams during the preseason of next year. That will be good exposure for him.

Also back to what I said earlier, I never said he wouldn’t be successful because of this. I don’t know if he will or not. I’m not making any insinuations on his future because of this decision.  

[MkadozaParticipant]

 The biggest benefit of this move is he’s going to an English speaking country. The culture shock will be at a minimum.

[ChoppyParticipant]

Thank you! If I hear one more post about “culture shock” and NZ or Australia in the same sentence I’m gonna crack it. Its not like the US has much culture to be shocked about leaving, is there? Or is it shock to people that other places actually have culture? 

[ChewyParticipant]

 Millions of kids get culture shock going to college and that’s a USA to USA move. It happens when someone grows up in the same area for 18 years and all of a sudden leaves it. 

It’s not that NZ or AUS is that different from the USA, it’s that it is not home.

Also, it’s not about being suprised that other places have culture. It is about being put into situations and not knowing what is the norm. Small stuff like tax being added on the price before the purchase, or paying for public restrooms, or bring your own bag to the grocery store, or a large drink = a US medium. Little things like these can make people feel out of place, like they are an outsider (which they are but it’s not a good feeling to have thrown in your face all the time). 

 

[The GoatParticipant]

It’s the Australian NBL. The NZ league is completely different. You wouldn’t say the Raptors are in a Canadian league. 

Why get abused by the NCAA for no pay? Why sit in meaningless classes with no intention of graduating? 

Living in another part of the world is a great experience. Australia and NZ are great places to get your feet wet as a pro. You have no risk of wars, poverty or quality of life like in other parts of the world. They speak English and have an NBA connection through this program.  

 

[r377Participant]

 

Very interesting

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/113079702/breakers-to-make-fortune-if-rj-hampton-picked-in-first-round-of-nba-draft

It seems he signed for 2 years, so when he declares for the draft the Breakers will make US$800,000 on a buyout.

Jennings, Feguson & Muiday all sucked playing overseas but still got drafted based on high school hype.

[theballerwayParticipant]

 Is travelling with him so that will help with any ‘culturally shocking’ issue lol.

Hes known as a hard worker and will be ableto work on his game with his dad(ex player) and the NZ pro coaching. 

Like said above his stats dont have to be that amazing to get in NZ for a  late lottery look at worst

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